Jewelry-box fastener.



J. R. SUNDEE. JEWELRY BOX FASTENER. APPLICATION-FILED MAR. 27, 1909.

1,025,430. Patented May 7, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. SUNDEE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASS'IGNOR, BY MESNIE ASSIGNMENTS, 'IO WARNER JEWELRY CASE COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

JEWELRY-BOX FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1909.

Patented May *7, 1912.

Serial No. 486,111.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. SUNDEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at l iutfalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in J ewelry-Box Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to boxes having automatic locking catches and more particularly to the class of boxes used in the jewelry trade for carrying and displaying sample rings.

The object of the invention is the provision of an eflicient automatic lock for such boxes which is not liable to get out of order, which can be conveniently operated to release the cover and which shall be neat in appearance.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of aring sample box embodying the invention, a number of the ring-bars being omitted toexpose the locking devices. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section in line 22, Fig. 1, showing the cover closed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section in line 3-3, Fig. 1.

I Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts throughout the several views.

The body A of the box is of the customary rectangular form and comparatively shallow, its walls being preferably of wood, although they may be constructed of metal or other suitable material.

The cover B of the box is preferably provided with a spring hinge or hinges of any suitable or approved construction, so as to open it automatically when released. 'The front wall of the cover carries laterallyfacing hooks or shouldered catches G which, in the construction shown, are secured to the inner side of said wall and extend below the same.

D indicates a metallic lining-strip or bar preferably extending continuously along the front and side walls of the box to which it is riveted or otherwise secured. The side members of this lining strip terminate at their ,rear ends in angular lips or flanges d which are secured to the rear wall of the box, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4-. The front member of the lining strip is provided at its upper edge with an inwardly-turned horizontal flange (Z formed at its inner edge with a depending lip d which extends throughout the length of the box.

G indicates a longitudinally-movable slide located on the inner side of the front n'iember of the lining strip D and preferably consisting of a bar rest-ing against the same. The slide is guided between the top flange (Z of said front member and headed supporting pins 7t secured to the latter, the heads of the pins overlapping the lower edge of the slide, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The slide is provided at its upper edge with inwardlyextending locking lugs or flanges g which are arranged on the underside of the flange (Z and the front edges of which are adapted to interlock with the catches C of the cover, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the horizontal flange d of the lining strip being provided with longitudinal slots or apertures 2' for the passage of the catches. It will be observed that the front member of the strip D and its flange (Z and lip (Z together form a downwardlyopening channel or housing in which the upper portion of the slide is guided and concealed. lVhile serving as part of said housing, the lip (1 forms a convenient surface to which the usual box-covering of leather or other suit able material may be glued. This covering is not shown in the drawings, but it is well understood in the art that it extends up from the bottom of the box, passes over the upper edges of the walls and is ordinarily glued to the inner sides of the latter. In the present construction, the upper front portion of the covering is glued to the inner face of the lip (P. This lip thus keeps the covering out of contact with a slide and insures a free action thereof. A springj of any suitable construction serves to constantly urge the slide forwardly to hold it in engagement with the catches 0 when the cover is closed. The preferred spring shown in the drawings consists of a piece of springwire coiled around a pin secured to the inner side of the lining strip D and having a lower arm 7' bearing upon the stop pin Z carried by said strip and an upper arm j attached to the slide. The forward movement of the slide is limited by a stop pin on secured to the strip D in the path of the slide.

a is a push rod or extension formed on or secured to the front portion of the slide and passing through openings in the lining strip D and the side wall of the box, as shown in Fig. 2. Bearing against the outer end of this push rod is an elastic or flexible pressure plate 0 arranged on the outer side of the adjacent side wall of the box and secured thereto at its rear end. The free portion of the pressure plate is adapted to enter a recess 7) in said side wall when it is pressed to release the cover.

By this construction, upon closing the cover, the inclined noses of its catches C ride over the lugs g of the slide G, shifting the slide rearwardly until the shoulders of the catches pass below said lugs, when the latter engage with said shoulders, lockii'ig the cover in its closed position. To release the cover it is only necessary to press the free end of the plate 0 inwardly, when the slide will be shifted rearwardly through the medium of the push rod n, thereby withdrawing the slide-lugs g from the covereatches and allowing the cover to be thrown open by its spring-hinges.

The cover shown in the drawings has two catches, one near each end, but a greater number may be employed, if desired; and in small boxes a single locking catch may be suflicient.

hen the box has a plurality of catches, as shown, they are conveniently and simultaneously released by means of the single pressure plate 0. This plate is comparatively thin and substantially flush with the outer side of the box, producing a neat releasing device free from project-ions.

This improved locking device, while being reliable in action, has the further advantages of simplicity, durability and cheapness of construction.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of the box-body, a strip applied to the inner side of the front wall of the body substantially parallel therewith and provided at its top with an inwardly-extending flange having a slot, a spring-actuated slide movable lengthwise of said strip and guided thereon underneath said slot-ted flange, the slide having an inwardly extending locking lug arranged on the underside of the slotted flange, and the box-cover having a. catch arranged to pass through the slot of said flange and interlock with the lug of the slide.

2. The combination of the box-body, strip applied to the inner side of the front wall. of the body substantially parallel therewith and provided at its top with a slot-ted inwardly extending flange having a depending lip at its inner edge, a spring-aetuated slide guided on said strip to move lengthwise thereof, the slide having a locking lug arranged on the underside of said slotted flange, and the box-cover having a catch arranged to pass through the slot of said flange and interlock with the lug of the slide.

3. The combination of the box-body, a strip applied to the inner side of the front wall of the body substantially parallel therewith and provided at its top with a slotted inwardly-extending flange, said flange having a depending lip at its inner edge, a spring-actuated slide arranged on the underside of said slot-ted flange between said strip and said lip, a box-cover having a catch arranged to pass through said slotted flange and interlock with the slide, and means external to the box for shifting the slide to release the cover.

W'itness my hand this 20th day of: March, 1909.

JOHN R. SUNDEE. lVitnesses Enwann \Vamvnn, C. F. Gnrnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

